Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
11HV-04169
~6~
Our invention relates to removable stab type
connectors for selectively providing connection or
isolation between a linear conductor and a laterally
displacecl conductor in enclosed electric bus apparatus.
The inventlon is par~icularly applicable to offset
joints in high voltage electric bus apparatus of the
enclosed, gas-insulated type.
During the installation of enclosed electric
bus apparatus, and occasionally for investigation o
~ 10 aults, it is necessary ts isolate conductor sections.
- This is usually accomplished by means of a motor driven
disconnect switch having an axially movable contact
rod mounted at an a~gular junction in the bus apparatus.
,, .
Such a switch is expensive and the occasions for its
use infrequent. A less expensive isolating means is
desirable.
.,
It is there~ore a general object of our in-
ventiGn to provide a simple and inexpensive but e~fective
isolating switch between conductor members in enclosed
electric bus apparatus.
It is a more particular o~ject of our invention
to provide a manually operable stab connector of a
design especially adapted for use at an angular joint
between conductor parts of anclosed electric bus
,
apparatus.
In carrying out our invention in one pre-
ferred embodiment we utilize a removable stab type
contact rod between transversely aligned terminal ends
of a pair o~ linear bus conductors disposed in laterally
spaced apart relation. The oEfset joint thus formed is
enclo~ed in an off~et tubular sheath, or housing, having
an opening with a removable cover in axial alignment
, , '.
.. .
.' ' . , ' ' ' . .,' '. . ~ ' ~ . .
. .
11~IV-0~169
3~
with the contact rod to permit manual withdrawal of the
rod. The conductc)r end proximate the housing opening
is provided with tr~nsverse passage to permit through
insertion of the contact rod and is provided with con~
tact means within the passage to engage one end of the
rod~ In connected position the opposite end of the
rod seats in a contact socket in the remote conductor
end. Preferably the contact making terminal ends of the
conductors are of spherical configuration and the
transverse passage in one a~nductor is provided with a
closure cap covering that end of the passage remote
from socket in the other conductor. Preferably also
the stab contact is tubular for receiving an elongate
clamping stud secured at one end in the contact socket
and provided at its other end with means :Eox clamping
the removable rod in contact making position.
Our invention will be more fully understood
and its various objects and adva.ntages further apprecia-
ted by ref~rring now to the following detailed specifi-
cation taken in conjunction wlth the accompanying drawingin which:
Fig. 1 is an axial cross sectional view of an
offset stab joint in enclosed electric bus apparatus
`- embodying our invention in one form,
Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing
a modified form of our invention,
Fig. 2A is an enlarged cross sectional detail
of Fiy. 2, and
Figs. 3 and 4 are fxagmentary cross-sectional
views of stab connectors embodying our invention and
showing several means for securing the s~ab contact ~: .
; in contact making position.
.
.. ' , . ," " ' , . ',
: . , , ' ' '
llHV -0416g
Referring now to Fig. 1, we have shown in
axial cross-section an offset joint between a pair of
linear bus conductors 10 and 11 disposed in parallel,
laterally spaced apart relation and having terminal
ends lOa, lla, respectively, in alignment along a
transverse axis. The conductor ends lOa, lla are
spherical to minimize electrostatic stress. The
conductor end lOa is provided with a transver~e passage,
or aperture 15, therethrough and the conductor end lla
is provid d with a contact socket 16 in alignment with
. the axes of the passage 15. The conductors 10, 11 are
enclosed in coaxial, radially spaced relation within an
offset tubular sheath or housing having parallel sec- : .
,~ . .. . ..
tions 12 and an intermediate transverse section 12a.
The transverse ~heath section 12a is provided at opposite ....
axial ends with access apartures covered by removable
closure plates 13, 14 laterally ad jacent the terminal
ends lOa, lla, respectively.
The conductor terminal. ends lOa, lla at Fig. 1
are electrically connected together by an ~longate,
:. electrically conductive and movable contact rod or
stab contact 17. At one terminal end the removable
~tab contact 17 engages fixed contacts 18 within the
contact socket 16 and at its opposite terminal end the
~ stab 17 engages fixed contacts 19 within the transverse
,~ passage 15. A removable spherical closure cap 20 is ~ -
. provided to cover that end of the passage 15 opposite
the socket 16. The contact socket 16, the transverse :
passage 15, the cap 20 and the cover plate 13 are in
alignment along the axis of the contact rod 17. It
will be under~tood that in operation the conductor parts ..
10 and 11 may be electrically isolated by removing the
- 3 - -
.. . . ., .,; . . , :
' '~ '; ' ' :, :'' " :
.
11H~04169
3~
end cap 20 and the sheath cover plate 13 and then
withdrawing the stab contact 17 throu~h the passage
15 and the sheath opening uncovered by the closure
plate 13.
While for the purpose of illustration ~le
have shown two linear conductors 10 and 11 in coplanar
parallel spaced relation, it will b~ ~vident to those
skilled in the art as this description proceeds that the
invention is e~ually applicable to connection of any
linear conductor member, whether at its end point or
elsewhere, to a laterally spaced conductor member o~
any desired shape or disposition. For example, linear
conductor members in parallel planes may be so connected
whether ox not their axes are both coplanar with the
stab contact axis; it is only neces~ary that the contact
socket in a remot~ conductor lie in the plane determined
`~ by a linear conductor and the axis of a transverse
passage therethrough.
At Fig. 2 we have sho~n a modified f orm of
our invention in which parts corresponding to those
~ shown at Fig. 1 have been assigned the same re~erence
:, numeral~, the cap 20 and cover plate 13 being removed.
~ `In the embodiment shown at Fig. 2 the stab contact 17
: ..
is tubular and is shown partially inserted over a
coaxial guide rod 25. The guide rod ~5 is pre~erably
somewhat 1exible and is secured at one end wi.thin the : :
- contact socket 16, as by a threaded connection 26. For
the purpose of ready insertion or withdrawal of stab con- :
tact 17 the guide rod is longer than the stab and extends
completely through the transverse passage 15 and beyond
: the proximate end opening in th~ ~ransverse sheath
section 12a. If the guide rod 25 is integral it must
~ 4 ~
: .
. '' , , ''' :; ' '.
. . : , , , . .:
.. . . .
. .
1LH~-0~169
37~
of course be removed from the socket 16 after the stab
contact 17 i5 fully seated in order to place the cap
20 and plate 13 (Fig.l~ in position. Preferably,
howe~er, the guide rod 25 is sectionalized at a point
25a within the terminal end lOa as shown in enlarged
cross section at Fiy. 2A. In Fig. 2A the sections of
rod 25 are connected together in longitudinal alig~nent
by means of a threaded stud on that rod section secured
in the socket 16. Thus after full insertion of the . .--
stab contact 17 the extended end of guide rod 25 may
be removed and the remaining inner end utilized as
described below,
At Fig. 3 we have shown a detailed cross
sectional view of the conductor terminal end lOa with
the cap 20 removed. A tubular stab contact 17 is in
contact making position over a coa~ial guide rod 25
which terminates within the tran!ivarse passa~e 15 and
only slightly beyond the associated terminal end of
connector 17. In thiS ca~e the guide rod 25 is secured
in socket 16 as at Fig. 2 and provided at its end ramote
~rom the so~ket 16 with a cl~mping nut 27. The rod 25 .
thus serves as a stud for clamping the stab contact 17
to the conductor 11 (Fig. 2) while permitting sliding
engagement between the stab contact and the aperture
contacts 19 to accommodate thermal expan~ion and
contraction of the parts. It may be observed that when
the ~tab contact 17 is bolted in place in contact 50cket
16, asAthe nut ~ of Fig. 3, it may tilt within the ~ ~ :
contacts 18 and slide within the contacts 19, thereby
to permit individual thermal expansion and contraction
of part~ 10, 11 and 17.
At Fig. 4 we have shown another detailed cross
. ..
- 5 -
,, , : , ~
:, ,,,.. ,...... , . , :, . . ,:
: ', . ~ . . ,
0416g
3~
sectional view of the conductor end lOa wharein the stab
contact 17 (whether or not of tubular conf iguration)
is secured in contact making position by bolting it to
a strap 30. While thP stab contact 17 may be bolted
directly to strap 30 we prefer to provide on the contact
17a reduced neck portion 17a which extends through the
strap 30 with some degree of axial lost motion. A nut
and washer 17b prevents withdrawal from the strap while
permitting some axial sliding movement o~ stab contact
10 17 wi~hin ~he con~acts 19. The strap 30 is removably
secured to conductor end lOa within the transverse
passage 15 after the stab 17 i9 fully inserted into its
contact making position. By the construction of Fig. 4
the stab contact 17 is thu~ permitted to tilt in the
socket 16 and to slide in the contacts 19 so th~t parts
`~ 10, 11 and 17 are individually free to expand and con-
tract due to changes in temperature.
While we have illustrated only certain pre-
ferred embodiments in our invention by way of illustration,
many further modifications will occur to those skilled
in the art. Accordingly we wish to have it understood
that we intend in the appended claims to cover all such
modi~ications as fall within the true spirit and scope
of our inven~ion_
'~
"' ~ ,
':
:. .. .~
., .
_ 6 --
.
,. , ,. ~ , ~ , .
